A GEORGE III STICK BAROMETER

Details

JOSEPH FINNEY, LIVERPOOL, CIRCA 1770
A GEORGE III STICK BAROMETER
The case with carved scroll pediment, glazed hinged square frame for register plates, encased tube and lidded box at base for open cistern, (originally open cistern), the silvered plates, '28-31', with manually adjusted brass pointer extending on right to engraved table enabling measurements to 1⁄100th inch, signed on the plates 'Jos. Finney in Liverpool'
Mahogany and brass
44 3⁄4 in. (113.7 cm.) high; 10 in. (25.4 cm.) wide; 3 in. (7.6 cm.) deep

Provenance

Acquired from Anthony Woodburn, Lewes, June 2001.

Special notice

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Amelia Walker Director, Specialist Head of Private & Iconic Collections

awalker@christies.com +44 20 7389 2085

Lot Essay

Sir Nicholas Goodison noted: Two eighteenth-century watch and clock makers of this name are recorded at Liverpool - Joseph Finney (1), 1734-61, d.1772, the most likely maker of this barometer, and Joseph Finney (2), 1770-96. The cistern was originally open and survives intact, but at present there is an ordinary portable cistern in its place.

An angle barometer by Finney with an architectural case and an open cistern is in the Science Museum collection (Inv. no. 1927-1911; N. Goodison, English Barometers, Woodbridge, 1977, p. 69, pl. 18).

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